Category: Uncategorized

  • Preaching Paths 30 March 2025 Lent 4 Yr C

    Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary In today’s reading (Luke 15:1-3,11b-32), Jesus responds to Pharisees who condemn his habit of sharing his table with notorious sinners and tax collectors. We focus today on what many know as the parable of the “Prodigal Son,” the third in a triad of parables about God’s concern…

  • Third Sunday in Lent, Yr C, 23rd March 2025

    Luke 13:1-9 The parable of the fig tree 13:1At that very time there were some present who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 13:2He asked them, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? 13:3No, I tell…

  • Preaching Paths 23 March 2025  Lent 3 Yr C

    Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary The Gospel text for Lent 3, Luke 13:1-9, continues the apocalyptic tone of Jesus’ teachings in ch 12.  Four themes shape these verses: 1) the fragility of human life; 2) the imminent inbreaking of God’s reign; 3) the narrowing window of opportunity to take appropriate action (repentance);…

  • 16th  March 2025 , 2nd Sunday of Lent, Yr C

    Luke 13:31-35 A hen gathering her brood 13:31At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” 13:32He said to them, “Go and tell that fox for me, ‘Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third…

  • Preaching Paths 16 March 2025 Lent 2 Yr C

    Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary Today’s text, Luke 13:31-35, presents preachers with interpretative challenges. Luke joins two short scenes, each of them surprising. First, sympathetic (?) Pharisees warn Jesus that Herod plans to kill him; Jesus responds. Luke follows this scene with Jesus’ lament over Jerusalem, which in Matthew occurs much later,…

  • 9th March 2025, Lent 1, Year C

    Luke 4: 1-13  The temptation of Jesus 4:1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, 4:2 where for forty days he was tested by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. 4:3…

  • Preaching Paths 9 March 2025  Lent 1 Yr C

    Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary Luke’s version of the wilderness temptations of Jesus (Lk 4:1-13) follows Mt closely, yet with variations. Luke brackets the wilderness experience with statements that Jesus is “full of [the] Holy Spirit” (vv 1, 14; the definite article is missing in the Greek text). While Mt tells us…

  • Transfiguration Sunday, 2nd March 2024

    Luke 9:28-36, (37-43a) Jesus is transfigured on the mountain 9:28Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 9:29And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.…

  • Preaching Paths 2 March 2025  Feast of the Transfiguration, Year C

    Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary On Transfiguration Sundays, whatever Synoptic gospel is featured in that lectionary year, many congregations can predict what the preacher will say: “We can’t cling to our mountaintop experiences, trying (like Peter) to freeze-frame the glory; we must engage trouble  in the valleys.” It is a reliable approach,…

  • Preaching Paths 23 February 2025 Epiphany 7, Year C

    Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary Today’s text, Luke 6:27-38, begins with Jesus’ command, “Love your enemies.” Later, when Jesus teaches about love of neighbor, there will be questions; but apparently no one needed to ask, “Who is my enemy?”  Status-defining social, ethnic, religious, and economic divides and hierarchies set groups against one…